Danish Refugee Council (DRC), one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently seeking a highly qualified and motivated candidate to fill the position of Grants and Partnerships Officer. If you are a results-driven professional passionate about humanitarian response and partnership development, this is an opportunity to contribute to meaningful and life-saving work in challenging contexts.
About the Job
Under the supervision of the Programme Development and Quality (PDQ) Manager, and in close coordination with the Grants Management Coordinator, the Programme Support Unit, Area Managers, and other senior managers in South Sudan and DRC HQ, the Grants and Partnerships Officer will support the identification, development, and management of strategic partnerships that strengthen DRC’s mission and programme impact.
The role involves active relationship-building with key stakeholders, supporting proposal development, ensuring compliance with donor and partnership requirements, and contributing to effective coordination and implementation of partnership agreements.
Key Responsibilities
Grant Management and Reporting
- Support donor, partner, and government reporting processes by coordinating, compiling, editing, and providing feedback to ensure the timely submission of high-quality narrative reports.
- Support the development of key sector success stories and evidence-based communication products to demonstrate programme impact to internal and external audiences.
- Support grant opening, review, and closing meetings, ensuring proper documentation and follow-up actions.
- Assist the Grants Management Coordinator in responding to information requests from internal and external stakeholders in a timely and accurate manner.
- Provide relevant contractual and compliance information to the Monitoring & Evaluation team to ensure best-practice monitoring of programme activities.
Partnership Development and Coordination
- Cultivate and manage relationships with strategic partners, including NGOs, INGOs, government entities, donors, and private sector actors.
- Represent DRC in relevant coordination meetings, networking forums, and partnership platforms.
- Identify and engage potential partners aligned with DRC’s mission and strategic objectives.
- Prepare concept notes, proposals, partnership frameworks, and briefing documents for prospective collaborations.
- Support negotiation, drafting, and management of partnership agreements, including MOUs, sub-agreements, teaming agreements, and other contractual arrangements.
- Maintain an up-to-date partnership database and ensure all partnership interactions, documentation, and agreements are properly filed.
Partner Due Diligence and Capacity Assessment
- Coordinate and support partner capacity assessments using standardized tools and procedures.
- Evaluate partner organizational capacity in areas such as governance, finance, programme delivery, safeguarding, and M&E.
- Identify partnership risks and recommend mitigation measures for partner onboarding and engagement.
Compliance, Learning, and Capacity Building
- Monitor partnership performance and contribute to regular reporting, learning, and recommendations for improvement.
- Ensure compliance with partnership terms and donor regulations.
- Provide guidance and support to DRC staff on donor requirements, proposal development, and partnership engagement.
- Support the development and improvement of fundraising tools, templates, and standard operating procedures.
Requirements
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Political Science, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field.
- A Master’s degree will be an added advantage.
Experience
- Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in grants management, partnership development, donor compliance, or programme development in an NGO environment.
- Proven experience supporting proposal writing, concept note development, and donor reporting.
- Experience in managing partnerships and sub-grants with local and international partners is an asset.
- Previous experience in humanitarian contexts and complex operating environments is preferred.
Technical Skills
- Strong knowledge of donor compliance requirements and grant management processes.
- Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality narrative reports and proposals.
- Strong organizational skills, with proven ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Ability to coordinate effectively across departments and with external stakeholders.
- Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); experience with grants management tools is an advantage.
Core Competencies
- Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills.
- High attention to detail and commitment to quality assurance.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently and proactively in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated integrity, professionalism, and commitment to humanitarian principles and DRC values.
Languages
- Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required.
- Knowledge of Arabic or other local languages is an added advantage.